Rockliffe Hall 5 Star Spa and Golf Resort, Durham
Hunworth-on-Tees, Darlington
Reviewed by Helen
Rockliffe Hall has something for everyone. The modern and ultra chic, mixing with the majestic splendour of the Old Hall, together with the luxurious spa, superb dining and golf facilities all make this a heavenly destination for your truly special time away. Paradise awaits you...
Rockliffe Hall, County Durham, is a superb 5 star luxury Hotel and Spa, complete with the longest golf course in the UK and three beautiful restaurants including the flagship triple AA Rosette Orangery.
Set amidst 375 acres of rolling countryside, all bedrooms have stunning views looking out over the vast golf course or gardens and beyond. The former 18 century Old Hall and estate has been beautifully transformed into a first class destination hotel resort and is the perfect for treat for your well deserved break.
Upon entering I was most warmly greeted and taken to the elegant morning room, perfect for afternoon teas. This and the rest of the Old Hall building has been refurbished with exquisite detail, in keeping with the grandeur of the former years, with no expense spared on lavish furnishings, oozing in ambience and authentic character. The Drawing Room sets the scene for a coffee or a relaxing drink after golf, and the cocktail bar is ideal to meet before dinner or for a late night cap or two.
This fabulous 5 star resort surprisingly only has 61 rooms as well as some apartments, yet despite the scale and vast size of the estate, it truly does resemble the ambience and personality of a smaller boutique hotel, except here you have the amazing state-of- the- art Spa and one of the most challenging golf courses in Europe, all right on your door step, not to mention the fine dining experience. If you are celebrating a special occasion, then Champagne and chocolates can be pre-arranged for your room, or the staff are more than happy deal with any other requests if required.
The rooms in the main building are fantastically spacious with high tech appliances such as tile TV in the bathroom, mood lighting flat screen TVs and with cool chic interiors. Comfort is key here, with Vespa king size beds and a separate dressing and bathroom area, these are more like a mini suite than a standard hotel room. Each room has a patio or balcony overlooking the vast estate, great for a glass of wine on a summer evening. The Old Hall bedrooms are grand and elegant in style, combining the former days' finesse with the luxury comforts of our modern and contemporary times. The apartments are worth looking into if there is a few of you going away as you then have the option for self catering too. Check out the Self Catering category on our website for more details.
There are several dining options, the best of which is undoubtedly the Orangery Restaurant set within the magnificent 18th century Old Hall. Here, you can enjoy a culinary delight within the Tasting and á la carte menus which feature only the best seasonal and locally sourced dishes, with an accomplished wine list to match.
For less formal options, there is the contemporary Brasserie restaurant with a lovely terrace for summer al fresco dining, and also the Clubhouse for tasty Grills and Seafood as well as their renowned Sunday lunches.
The Spa experience is for me the main reason to visit, (but then again I can't play golf for toffee!). This is an indulgent escape which transcends into another world completely. Carefully selected Comfort Zone, Dr Murad and Mama Mio products are used here and you have several experiences to choose from, such as the thermal bathing suite with its range of differing heat rooms as well the ice fountain and hydropool. You can relax and unwind around the 20 metre pool whilst being looked after by your spa butler, complete with Champagne or freshly squeezed fruit juice to quench your thirst. There is also the Spa Boutique where you can pick up the products you have been treated to, or buy unique gifts for your loved ones.
Rockliffe Hall is ideal for a Golf and Spa break and golf tuition lessons are available too. Again service is at the highest level here, with the golf concierges looking after you all the way to the 18th hole. After that the next stop is the Spike Bar at the Club House, where I am sure you wont need any help at all with your well deserved drink. There are plenty of other leisure activities to enjoy here, apart from the high tech gym, Nordic Walking and fishing within the 375 acre estate as well as country walks to keep you active.
Whether you are here for a romantic weekend away, or a spa retreat with the girls or away with the boys at the golf, whatever you choose to do, your experience at Rockliffe Hall will undoubtedly be one to remember. It is easily accessible from the A1 near Darlington, or 45 minutes from Newcastle or Leeds Bradford airports. For a more flamboyant show-stopping arrival you could also make use of the hotel's helipad.
This certainly is a Wow Factor destination, with some fabulous deals available throughout the year. Please check out the website for details. Don't forget to mention Away without the Kids when booking!